Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged the people of Agatu to give peace a chance and cohabit with indigenous Fulani herdsmen, as was the case in the past.
The governor made the call during his visit alongside his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, to Agatu local government area on Wednesday and was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tahav Agerzua.
Both governors were in Obagaji for a peace meeting aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the area.
Speaking , Ortom lamented what he described as the massive and unprecedented destruction of Agatu and killings by herdsmen but stressed that there was no alternative to peace for development and progress to take place.
The governor appealed to the Agatu people to forgive and allow the Fulanis who were born in the land to return, stressing that the Bible admonishes that vengeance belongs to God.
Ortom reiterated his earlier stance that ranching remains the best approach to ending farmers and herdsmen crises across the country.
The Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Hussein, while speaking on behalf of the Fulani people, appealed for forgiveness.
Hussein promised that his people would abide by the resolutions taken by the security councils to ensure peace returns to the area.
The Agatu people have been involved in communal dispute with Fulani herdsmen, an incident that has resulted in the death of several people.
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